Yellow-crowned woodpecker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow-crowned woodpecker |
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| Male yellow-crowned woodpecker in Mangaon | |
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The yellow-crowned woodpecker (Leiopicus mahrattensis) is also known as the Mahratta woodpecker. This small bird is a type of woodpecker found in the Indian subcontinent. It is the only species in its group, called Leiopicus.
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Understanding the Yellow-Crowned Woodpecker
The yellow-crowned woodpecker is a medium-small bird. It measures about 17.5 centimeters (6.9 inches) long. Its weight is usually between 28 and 46 grams (1 to 1.6 ounces).
What Does a Yellow-Crowned Woodpecker Look Like?
This woodpecker has a pale head. Its upper body is black with many white spots and stripes. The underside of its body is dark. It has dingy white streaks and a red patch on its belly. It also has brown patches on its cheeks and neck.
How to Tell Males and Females Apart
Male and female yellow-crowned woodpeckers look a bit different.
- The female has a yellowish crown (top of the head) and nape (back of the neck).
- The male has a scarlet (bright red) nape. His fore-crown (front part of the head) is yellow.
Where Yellow-Crowned Woodpeckers Live
These woodpeckers live across the Indian subcontinent. This area includes countries like India. They are also found in parts of Southeast Asia. This includes countries such as Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.
Naming the Yellow-Crowned Woodpecker
The yellow-crowned woodpecker was first described in 1801. An English bird expert named John Latham gave it the name Picus mahrattensis. Later, in 1854, a French bird expert named Charles Lucien Bonaparte created a new group for it. This group is called Leiopicus. The yellow-crowned woodpecker is the only species in this group.
What Do the Names Mean?
The word mahrattensis comes from a historical area. This area is called Marhatta. It is in the modern Indian state of Maharashtra. The name Leiopicus comes from two old Greek words. Leios means "smooth" or "beardless." Pikos means "woodpecker."
Images for kids
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Female at Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary
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Female at Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary
